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Elon Musk’s recent announcement regarding the introduction of audio and video calling features on X, formerly known as Twitter, has sparked curiosity and speculation among users and tech enthusiasts. This move aligns with Musk’s ambitious plan to transform X into an “everything app” that encompasses a wide range of services, from online payments to news and even food delivery.

While the new feature has generated excitement, not all X users currently have access to it, and the company hasn’t provided a clear timeline for a widespread rollout. Additionally, there’s been speculation, based on code discovered by tech veteran Chris Messina, that these audio and video calls may be reserved for subscribers, indicating a potential premium feature.

The introduction of premium features is not surprising in the tech world, but it raises questions about how these services will be managed. Some early users have reported that they can screen calls by specifying criteria such as verified users, people they follow, and contacts in their address book. This suggests that X aims to provide a level of control and privacy for its users.

However, X’s recent silence on the matter, responding to inquiries with automated messages after Musk’s takeover, leaves many wondering about the reasoning behind this new feature. Elon Musk has been vocal about his desire to transform X into a platform akin to China’s WeChat, a super-app that facilitates everything from shopping to communication. Yet, his initial vision for X.com, dating back to 1999, was primarily a financial services app, encompassing banking, digital transactions, and more.

The introduction of audio and video calling may appear incongruent with X’s financial services aspirations, raising concerns about potential disruptions to the user experience. Getting a phone call on a social media platform primarily designed for consuming information is an unexpected twist, particularly if it’s from an unfamiliar verified X user.

Nonetheless, Musk’s strategy might be to emulate companies like Uber and Amazon, creating stickiness within the X app by offering an expanding array of services. Uber evolved from a ride-hailing service to providing food delivery, boat charters, and more. Amazon used products like Alexa to drive additional revenue to its core business.

The big question is whether this approach will succeed for X. Users might initially be drawn to X for its signature content like live Spaces and entertaining posts. Still, they could stay for the convenience of internet-enabled phone calls, long-form content, and high-yield savings accounts, especially if these features are limited to subscribers. This approach could potentially become a revenue driver for X.

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However, there’s a significant caveat to this strategy. Musk’s success in executing his grand vision hinges on both technical challenges and the regulatory environment. Unlike China, the U.S. maintains a close watch on tech companies to prevent monopolistic practices and protect competition.

In conclusion, while the addition of audio and video calling to X might seem unexpected in light of its financial services focus, it could potentially serve as a strategy to create user “stickiness” within the app. The ultimate success of this move will depend on how well Musk can execute his broader plans while navigating regulatory scrutiny. X users will have to wait and see how this ambitious transformation unfolds.

Sandhya Gupta

I am a law graduate from NLU Lucknow. I have a flair for creative writing and hence in my free time work as a freelance content writer.

A judge ordered that X Corporation, previously known as Twitter, must pay a total of 1.1 million dollars in legal costs accrued by a number of the social networking site’s former senior executives.

Parag Agrawal, the former chief executive officer of Twitter, and Vijaya Gadde, a former top lawyer, directed the group’s legal team in convincing Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick on Tuesday that Twitter had broken its obligation to pay the legal costs associated with their work for the firm.

The ex-executives said that by refusing to pay the amounts despite the fact they were connected to inquiries into the activities of the social networking site, Twitter violated its own rules. When Elon Musk, a billionaire, acquired the business for the price of $44 billion last year, they were fired.

Due to his inability to pay Twitter providers for services like rent and consulting costs, Musk has been the target of several lawsuits.

Company representatives didn’t respond to an email seeking comment on McCormick’s decision on Tuesday right away. She presided over the court case involving Musk’s bid to have his $54.20 per share deal to purchase the social media company dismissed. In October 2022, he gave up trying to have the buyout declared invalid.

According to court documents, the business has reimbursed roughly 600,000 dollars of its debt but kept $1,158,427 in fees for attorneys’ work defending its previous executives in a congressional investigation into the impact of social media on elections in the United States, which required Gadde to testify before the House Committee on Reform and Oversight.

One of the business’s attorneys, Michael Blanchard, said that X executives had sticker shock after receiving the cost from Gadde’s lawyers, which they deemed to be quite unreasonable.

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The expenses, as stated by Blanchard, were for a single day of testimony, not multiple years’ worth of dispute. Officials from X believed the proposal to be an absolute exploitation of the business’s legal obligation to compensate employees for work done on its behalf.

McCormick stated Delaware courts inclined in favor of allowing CEOs’ requests for legal cost reimbursement when connected to their representation of firms after considering the arguments. She claimed that she didn’t see any justification for departing from the usual in this instance.

Suhani Jain

I am a student pursuing my bachelor’s in information technology. I have a interest in writing so, I am working a freelance content writer because I enjoy writing. I also write poetries. I believe in the quote by anne frank “paper has more patience than person